The Green Building Program is concerned with protecting the environment and encouraging homeowners and builders to build using environmentally sound practices. These programs are in line with the County’s Strategic Plan which has established goals of safeguarding our environment and quality of life and encouraging responsible development.
WHAT THE GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM DOES
There are more than 76 million residential buildings and nearly 5 million commercial buildings in the U.S. today. By the year 2010, another 38 million buildings are expected to be constructed. The challenge will be to build them smart, so they use a minimum of nonrenewable energy, produce a minimum of pollution, and cost a minimum of energy dollars, while increasing the comfort, health, and safety of the people who live and work in them.
Sustainable building practices go beyond energy and water conservation to incorporate environmentally sensitive site planning, resource efficient building materials and superior indoor environmental quality. Some of the key benefits are:
- Lower electric and water utility costs.
- Environmentally effective use of building materials.
- Enhanced health and productivity.
- Long-term economic returns.
- Reduced environmental impact.
The County of San Diego has established incentive programs, policies, ordinances, and guidelines to promote green building design and construction. Download a copy of the "Build Green" brochure.
GREEN BUILDING INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AND REBATES
INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS.
The County offers the incentive of no fees for the building permit and plan check of residential photovoltaic systems. (See: Homeowners Relief Act). Incentives are also currently offered through the Center for Sustainable Energy and through the California Energy Commission.
RESIDENTIAL & SMALL BUSINESSES For residential and small business customers planning to install solar systems under 30 kilowatts, visit the Energy Commission's Emerging Renewables Program Web site.
REBATE PROGRAMS Visit these web sites for more information on the rebates available for participating in the Green Building program.
Additional sources of information on solar power are listed below.
The County of San Diego has a Green Building Incentive Program designed to promote the use of resource efficient construction materials, water conservation and energy efficiency in new and remodeled residential and commercial buildings. The program offers incentives of reduced plan check turnaround time and a 7.5% reduction in plan check and building permit fees for projects meeting program requirements. To qualify for the incentives, the project must comply with one of the resource conservation measures listed below:
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Natural Resource Conservation
Straw Bale Construction. New buildings using baled straw from harvested grain for the construction of the exterior walls will qualify for the incentives.
Recycled Content. A builder would be eligible for the incentive program by doing one of the following
Show that 20% or more of primary building materials being used contain, in aggregate, a minimum weighted average of 20% post-consumer recycled content materials (reused materials count as 100%).
Show that at least one primary building material (such as roofing) is 50% or more post-consumer recycled content.
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Water Conservation
Gray water Systems. The installation of a gray water system in new or renovated buildings will qualify for the incentives. Gray water is the wastewater produced from bathtubs, showers, and clothes washers. In order to conserve water, it can be used for irrigation through subsurface distribution systems. A permit is required from the Department of Environmental Health for the gray water system. (CPC Title 24, Part 5, California Administrative Code, Appendix G.)
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Energy Conservation
Energy Use Below CEC Standards. Residential projects that exceed the minimum Title 24 standards by 15% and commercial projects that exceed the standards by 25% qualify for the Green Building Incentive Program. The applicant must demonstrate to the Building Division that the project exceeds the Title 24 minimum standards by submitting compliance documentation done on a computer program approved by the California Energy Commission.
EXISTING POLICIES AND ORDINANCES FOR GREEN BUILDING
The County of San Diego currently has several policies and ordinances that promote green building design and construction and insure that all new development is done in a manner that is considerate of the County’s natural resources. These regulations are summarized below (click on the links to be directed to the County ordinances):
Protection of Natural Resources
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Watershed Protection, Stormwater Management and Discharge Control Ordinance This ordinance establishes minimum requirements for the management of stormwater flows from development projects to reduce stormwater pollution, erosion and to protect and enhance existing water-dependent habitat.
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Multiple Species Conservation Program Preserves environmentally sensitive lands and creates open space lots and easements to prevent impacts to native habitats.
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Grading, Clearing and Watercourse Ordinance Prevents uncontrolled brushing and clearing of natural vegetation that would increase the potential for soil erosion.
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Resource Protection Ordinance Helps establish special controls on development and protects sensitive lands and prevents their degradation and loss for certain discretionary projects.
- Off street Parking Design Manual. Requires use of landscaping to help reduce the heat build-up in parking lots.
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Biological Mitigation Ordinance Promotes the preservation of biological resources by directing preservation toward land, which can be combined into contiguous areas of habitat or linkages.
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Groundwater Ordinance Establishes regulations for the protection, preservation, and maintenance of groundwater supplies throughout the County.
Water conservation
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California Plumbing Code Section 402 requires the installation of water conserving fixtures in new construction. These fixtures include faucets, shower heads and water closets.
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Landscape Water Conservation Design Manual Efficient irrigation uses (including rain sensors), transitional zones, use of native plantings, restriction on turf, use of mulch, the preservation of existing vegetation and natural features, and the use of reclaimed water when available.
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Water Management Plan State Assembly Bill 325, the Water Conservation in Landscaping Act of 1990, required that the Department of Water Resources develop a Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. This Model Ordinance was adopted and went into effect January 1, 1993. Cities and counties are required to enforce the ordinance as it applies to new and rehabilitated public and private landscapes that require a permit and on developer installed residential (single and multi-family) landscapes. The ordinance does not apply to projects under 2,500 square feet, homeowner installed residential landscapes, cemeteries, registered historical sites, and ecological restoration and mined reclamation areas without permanent irrigation systems. (Section 6717c.1 of the San Diego County Zoning Ordinance)
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Water Management Plans for Model Homes (Educational) For all applications for model homes, the Water Management Plan shall indicate the nature of public information documents placed at each model home describing water conservation principles used in the landscaping of said model home. Signs are required to be placed at each model home indicating the use of water conservation landscaping. (Section 6717c.2 of the San Diego County Zoning Ordinance)
Energy Conservation
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California Energy Efficiency Standards All new buildings in California are required to meet the energy efficiency standards contained in Title 24, Part 6, of the California Code of Regulations. Some of the major building components regulated by these standards include: insulation, heating & air conditioning and water heating.
Air Quality
- The County of San Diego Air Pollution Control District regulates businesses where the operations or equipment used in the buildings are capable of emitting air contaminants.
Recycling Resource
Note: The Rebuild A Greener San Diego program was a partnership between the San Diego Regional Energy Office, the City of San Diego, the County of San Diego and San Diego Gas & Electric. All phases of the Rebuild A Greener San Diego Program have now closed. More information is available at their web site at http://www.rebuildsandiego.org/ or call toll-free 1-877-284-5373.
